Pennsylvania has reported its fifth death linked to measles this year as the state grapples with a surge in infections nearing 1,000 amid a major outbreak. An unvaccinated resident from Lancaster County, who had tested positive for the virus, has succumbed to the illness, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which notified the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
So far in 2026, the state has recorded 943 confirmed measles cases across 39 counties, including 40 new cases since 28 September. At least 176 individuals have been hospitalised. The current outbreak, deemed the worst in the US since 1991, has resulted in several fatalities over the past two years. Although measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, recent years have seen a resurgence, a phenomenon linked by some experts to rising vaccine scepticism.
This recent death marks the third measles-associated fatality in Lancaster County this year. This area, known for its Amish and Mennonite communities, has lower vaccination rates. Pennsylvania had previously announced its first two measles-related deaths in August—a record not seen in the state for 35 years. Since then, the infection rate has more than doubled.
In response to the outbreak, Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration has enhanced vaccination and public health efforts. The MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, has seen a surge in uptake, with over 53,000 doses administered statewide in September, more than double the usual monthly average. Health experts assert that two doses of the MMR vaccine are around 97% effective in preventing measles.
On Tuesday, the CDC confirmed two measles-related deaths in its national statistics but did not disclose their locations. This toll has become a source of contention between Shapiro and US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr regarding how such deaths are categorised. Pennsylvania’s designation of five “measles-associated” deaths refers to fatalities occurring within 30 days of developing measles symptoms unless caused by an unrelated event.
Kennedy, a vaccine sceptic, has accused Shapiro of politicising the data and questioned the legitimacy of the state’s initial reports in August. Infectious disease experts caution that this debate over classification could undermine the CDC’s long-standing tracking methods for measles outcomes.
As cases spread, Pennsylvania officials are seeking further federal assistance. Earlier this month, the state requested an Epi-Aid investigation from the CDC to tackle the ongoing outbreak.
